
April
April has an average maximum temperature of 20.1°C, and an average minimum temperature of 7.0°C. April has an average rainfall of 49.3mm.

What to do this month
- Trim evergreen shrubs such as Pittosporum, Photinia, Viburnum, Euonymus, Escallonia and conifers.
- Do not trim Camellias as flower buds are now forming.
- Start choosing trees for autumn colour to plant in your garden. Take a drive around your neighbourhood to see the best looking autumn trees. The timing of foliage colour varies, so buying a tree now through to May is best.
- Camellias – Sasanqua Camellias (autumn flowering) are now in store. Come on in and select the best varieties now.
- Great time to plant Azalea, Rhododendron, Magnolia, Michelia and Pieris. These will all be settled in for a terrific display in spring.
- Daphne, winter-blooming Grevilleas, Correa Osmanthus Erica, Erysium, Hellebore and other winter colour and scent plants are also good to plant this month.
- Daphnes enjoy the cooler climates and are tolerant of frost. They like moist, rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil in a cool spot in light shade or with morning sun. If you can’t achieve excellent drainage in the garden, try a pot-grown daphne as a better option.
- Fertilise azaleas and camellias for beautiful blooms throughout autumn, winter and into spring. Now is the time to feed them with Kahoona pellets. Also great for Rhododendron, Gardenias and Blueberry.
- Fertilise lemon trees for the coming fruiting season. Also check for scale insects. Spray with horticultural oil.
- Weather is starting to cool so reduce watering. It’s your last real chance to feed all your evergreen plants before winter. If possible water first thing in morning giving a nice deep watering a couple of times a week.
- Last real chance to feed all your evergreen plants to help them build resilience before Winter’s cold.
- Repair of lawns – aerate if soil has become compacted for autumn rain and apply lawn food.
- Apply top dressing to uneven areas or bare patches. Apply seed and keep moist for 14 to 21 days. When mowing raise cutting blade height through autumn and winter.
- Keep up with the weeding to reduce competition for nutrients and water.
- Check your mulch on garden, veggie patch and beds making sure to give plant stems/trunks space. Water in after application to retain water soil moisture.

Vegetables
- Remove three-year strawberries and replace with new virus-free stock.
- Green manure crop can be planted in unused areas to reinvigorate soil for spring. This is a legume crop that is dug into the soil to add nitrogen.
- Protect all Brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale) from white cabbage moth. A light dusting of vegetable dust every 3 to 4 weeks will do the trick.
Sow
- Asian greens
- Broad beans
- Onions
- Peas
- Shallots
Plant
- Asian greens
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Celery
- Chinese cabbage
- Coriander
- Endive
- Garlic bulbs
- Leeks
- Lettuce
- Mint
- Peas
- Shallots
- Silver beet
- Spinach
- Spring onions
- Rocket
Harvest
- Artichoke
- Asian greens
- Beans
- Beetroot
- Cabbage
- Capsicum
- Carrot
- Chilli
- Chinese cabbage
- Corn
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Leek
- Rock melon
- Parsnip
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Radish
- Rhubarb
- Silver beet
- Spinach
- Tomato
- Turnip
- Zucchini

Flowers and bulbs
- Now is the time to come into the nursery to select your bulbs.
- Plant spring-flowering bulbs – bluebell, crocuses, daffodil, freesia, hyacinth, jonquil, ranunculus, tulips, ixias.
- Sow some poppies to honour Anzac Day.
- Plant up pots NOW for bright colour through winter- pansies, viola, primula, polyanthus, primrose, cyclamen, dianthus, cornflower, stock, Don’t forget to plant some of these around your vegie patch to attract beneficial insects.
- Divide herbaceous perennials e.g. Asters, Daylilies, Irises and Hellebores.
- Some early bulbs will start to pop up this month.